The French National Assembly's defence committee has set up an inquiry into the military role played by France, other countries and the United Nations in Rwanda between 1990 and 1994.

The committee's decision follows calls from aid organisations and others for an investigation.

A leading French newspaper Le Figaro recently accused France of continuing to arm the then Hutu-dominated Rwandan army after the beginning of the genocide, and Rwanda's new government has said the killings took place with France's open involvement.

The committee's chairman said the inquiry, which will be made up of a panel of ten MPs, will have a fact-finding mission and would not be able to instigate legal proceedings.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service